System for Collaborative Editing based on Document Evaluation

ABSTRACT

A method may include receiving request from a first user via an application, for assistance with completion of a document within the application; determining expected characteristics of the completed document, the expected characteristics identifying: a plurality of tasks to be performed to generate the completed document; and a document value; performing a computer-implemented matching process to match the first user with a second user based on the plurality of tasks and document value; and configuring permissions of the application to allow collaborative editing within the application between the first user and second user to complete the document

BACKGROUND

Modern software often allows multiple users to edit a single document. Alocal copy of the documents may exist on respective computing devices ofthe multiple users, but permissions and version control may be managedby an online service (e.g., a cloud-based document management service).For example, a first user may grant permission to a second user to edita document the first user created. The network service may also provideonline editing of the document. Online edits may be promulgated backdown to local copies.

Most software also includes search functionality for helping userscreate documents associated with the software. For example, aspreadsheet application may include help entries for built-in functioncall for use in cells and help entries on chart creation. The helpentries are stored within the application or stored in an onlinelocation, in various examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. Like numerals havingdifferent letter suffixes may represent different instances of similarcomponents. Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and notlimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is schematic diagram illustrating a collaborative editing sessionestablished by a user matching system, according to various examples.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface for requesting assistance withdocument completion, according to various examples.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface for presenting documentcharacteristic questions, according to various examples.

FIG. 4 illustrates a document intent data structure, according tovarious examples.

FIG. 5 illustrates a rating data structure, according to variousexamples.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart representation of a method to update a featurerating, according to various examples.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representation of a method to match a first userwith a second user, according to various examples.

FIG. 8 is schematic diagram illustrating determining a document value,according to various examples.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart representation of a method to match a first userwith a second user, according to various examples.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example machine upon whichany one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed hereinmay be performed, according to an example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of some example embodiments. It will be evident, however,to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practicedwithout these specific details.

Throughout this disclosure, electronic actions may be taken bycomponents in response to different variable values (e.g., thresholds,user preferences, etc.). As a matter of convenience, this disclosuredoes not always detail where the variables are stored or how they areretrieved. In such instances, it may be assumed that the variables arestored on a storage device accessible by the component via an API orother program communication method. Similarly, the variables may beassumed to have a default values should a specific value not bedescribed. Described systems and methods may provide a user interfacefor an end-user or administrator to edit the variable values in someinstances.

Modem computer programs (applications) often include functionality inthe form of features that an end user does not know exist. This is aseparate problem from knowing a feature exists, but the user not knowinghow to use it, in the latter scenario, an online or in-application helpsection may explain how to use the features; however, if users do notknow the feature exists, they cannot ask for help.

For example, a user may have an end goal—such as, performing an analysisof product sales. The user may have a spreadsheet document containingthe data, but have no idea how to, via an application, generate adocument with the necessary analysis. One solution may be for the userto go online and request help using a request for proposal (RFP) stylebidding process. Then, the user may transmit the spreadsheet to anexpert user who won the bid and the spreadsheet document may becompleted by the expert user.

The REP solution has a number of challenges. First, the user requestinghelp has to leave the application to request help, which createsinefficiencies to complete the task. Second, the user may have no way toverify that the expert user is actually an expert. Third, data privacymay be compromised by transmitting the data to the expert user outsideof a secured environment.

In order to overcome the challenges of the REP model (and other priorsolutions), a number of technical problems may be addressed in the areasof user interface design, encryption, data privacy, data access control,artificial intelligence/machine learning, and user activity monitoring.For example, new user interfaces may be generated, within anapplication, to allow an end user to request help without requiringcomputing resources to be used with opening an additional application torequest the help. Resources may be further conserved by permitting dataaccess to the expert user within the application itself as opposed totransmitting a document to the expert user via another application.Additional benefits may be realized to one skilled in the art afterreading this disclosure

Described herein is a user matching system that alleviates the technicalchallenges described previously. Consider that an end user is working inan application and needs help with creating a document with a set ofcharacteristics. For illustration purposes, the characteristics includea document that describes which products were sold in the highestquantity, broken down by month and region of a sales area, and theapplication is a spreadsheet application. Furthermore, the end user maynot even know if the spreadsheet application can help with creating thedocument the end user needs, but decides help is needed.

The end user may then, within the application, request help bydescribing the end goal of a completed document. The user matchingsystem may receive the request and description, and then initiate amatching process to pair the end user with an expert user—an expert atleast with regards to that specific task to help the end user with thetask. In various examples, the request and matching process are notperformed in real time. For example, the request may be received andthen at a later time (e.g., in an overnight batch), the matching processmay be performed. A collaborative document editing and communicationsession may be established between the end user and expert user. Withinthe session, the expert user may complete the document on behalf of theend user. In some examples, multiple expert users may be used tocomplete the document (e.g., each expert user may perform differenttasks). More detailed descriptions of each of these operations isdescribed below.

FIG. 1 is schematic diagram illustrating a collaborative editing sessionestablished by a user matching system, according to various examples.FIG. 1 illustrates user matching system 102, end user 104, expert user106, expert pool 108, user request 110, and collaborative editingsession 112. User matching system 102, as illustrated, includes userprofiles 114, matching engine 116, ratings component 118, intentdetermination component 120, communication session manager 122, documentevaluation 124, web server 126, database 128, and signal collection 130.

For illustration purposes, user matching system 102 is illustrated asset of separate components (e.g., matching engine 116, ratings component118, etc.). However, the functionality of multiple, individualcomponents may be performed by a single component. A component mayrepresent computer program code that is executable by a processing unit(e.g., a core of a general-purpose computer processor, a graphicalprocessing unit, an application specific integrated circuit, etc.) Theprogram code may be stored on a storage device and loaded into a memoryof the processing unit for execution. Portions of the program code maybe executed in parallel across multiple processing units. Execution ofthe code may be performed on a single device or distributed acrossmultiple devices. In some example, the program code is executed on acloud platform (e.g., MICROSOFT AZURE® or AMAZON EC2®) using sharedcomputing infrastructure.

In various examples, the assets and components in FIG. 1 may communicatevia one or more networks (not illustrated). A network may includelocal-area networks (LAN), wide-area networks (WAN), wireless networks(e.g., 802.11 or cellular network), the Public Switched TelephoneNetwork (PSTN) network, ad hoc networks, cellular, personal areanetworks or peer-to-peer (e.g., Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi Direct), or othercombinations or permutations of network protocols and network types. Anetwork may include a single local area network (LAN) or wide-areanetwork (WAN), or combinations of LAN's or WAN's, such as the Internet.

A user (e.g., end user 104 or expert user 106) may interact with avariety of systems/devices and a user have more than one role withineach system. For example, a user, Alice, may request help from anotheruser, Bob, within an application to complete a document. Alice may alsohelp out a third user. Charlie, with a document within a differentapplication. Throughout this disclosure, a user may be referred to witha modifier indicating the role the user is currently acting upon. Forexample, an expert user may be a user that has been paired up with anend user to help perform a task.

Users may have additional roles beyond being an expert user or end user.For example, a user may have a role as a contributor. A contributor usermay edit or generate content in a document repository. An administratoruser may edit backend scoring formulas, machine learning algorithms,etc.

A user may be represented in user matching system 102 as a user profiledata structure stored within user profiles 114. User profiles 114 may bepart of another database (e.g., database 128) or exist as a standalonedatabase. The user profile data structure may include additional datastructures. For example, the user profile data structure may include aone or more rating data structures that identifies ranking scores forthe user's different roles (described in further detail herein withrespect to FIG. 5).

The user profile data structure may include a user identification forthe user. Each user identification may be unique. The useridentification may be comprised of alphanumeric characters. The useridentification is an e-mail address, in an example. The useridentification may be shared across the roles of the user. Accordingly,a computer program may query user profiles 114 with a single useridentification to retrieve data about the user for each role—as opposedto using a different user identification for each role. The useridentification may be used across multiple application in an applicationsuite and may be the same identification used as an enterprise login.

The user profile data structure may include entries associated withexternal sources of information associated with the user. An entry mayinclude credentials (e.g., user id, tokens, etc.) and a logical accesslocation (e.g., website/API URL) for the external source of information.Periodically (e.g., daily), signal collection 130 may retrieve data fromthe external sources as described further herein below. A user profiledata structure may identify user characteristics with respect to a user.Characteristics may include, but are not limited to, demographics (age,etc.), application proficiencies (e.g., novice user of spreadsheetapplication XYZ) based on rating data structures, feature/task levelproficiencies in an application, education level, and current and pastjobs.

The user profile data structure may additional include availabilityinformation. For example, the information may indicate when (days,times, etc.) the user is available to help with another user. Theinformation may also indicate whether or not the user is currentlyhelping another user, and is therefore not currently available. In suchan instance, the user profile may further include data indicating theexpected period of time before the user is available again.

The user profile data structure may be established through a combinationof manual and automated entry. As indicated above, a user'sidentification may persist across multiple systems. Thus, multiplesystems may access and alter data in the user profile data structure.For example, user matching system 102 may provide a user interface(e.g., web, mobile, in-application, etc.) in which the user may view thedata stored in their user profile data structure and edit the structure.In another example, an administrator user may access the user profile toadd/edit details to a user's profile data structure.

End user 104 and expert user 106 may use client devices to communicatewith user matching system 102, and each other. The client devices maycomprise, but are not limited to, a smartphone, tablet, laptop,multi-processor system, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, game console, set-top box, or any other device that a userutilizes to communicate over a network. In example embodiments, theclient devices comprise a display module (not shown) to displayinformation (e.g., in the form of specially configured user interfaces).In some embodiments, the client devices comprise one or more of a touchscreen, camera, keyboard, microphone, and Global Positioning System(GPS) device.

Matching engine 116 may be used to process user request 110 to selectexpert user 106 from expert pool 108. Upon determining a match,communication session manager 122 may be used to establish collaborativeediting session 112. To select expert user 106, matching engine 116 mayuse the functionality of other components of user matching system 102such as intent determination component 120 to determine the end goal ofa document for end user 104; ratings component 118 to obtain ratings(e.g., application and task proficiencies) with respect to the end goal;and document evaluation 124 as a further signal as to user intent. Moredetailed explanations of these components are provided herein. The enduser 104 and expert user 106 may establish collaborative editing session112 and the attendant communications that support the collaborativeediting session 112 directly or through user matching system 102 or aseparate server (not shown for clarity).

Data used in user matching system 102 may be organized and stored in avariety of manners. For convenience, the organized collection of data isdescribed herein as database 128. The specific storage layout and modelused in database 128 may take a number of forms—indeed, database 128 mayutilize multiple models. Database 128 may be, but is not limited to, arelational database (e.g., SQL), non-relational database (NoSQL), a flatfile database, object model, document details model, graph database,shared ledger (e.g., blockchain), or a file system hierarchy. Database128 may store data on one or more storage devices (e.g., a hard disk,random access memory (RAM), etc.). The storage devices may be instandalone arrays, part of one or more servers, and may be located inone or more geographic areas as part or shared computing infrastructure.

Web server 126 may be configured to serve data in the form of webpagesor web applications to user matching system 102 and end user 104.Although generally discussed in the context of delivering webpages viathe Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), other network protocols may beutilized by web servers 110 (e.g., File Transfer Protocol, Telnet,Secure Shell, etc.) A user may enter in a uniform resource identifier(URI) into a network browser (e.g., the INTERNET EXPLORER® web browserby Microsoft Corporation or SAFARI® web browser by Apple Inc.) thatcorresponds to the logical location (e.g., an Internet Protocol address)of one or more pages served by web server 126. In response, web server126 may transmit a web page that is rendered on a display device usermatching system 102 or end user 104.

User matching system 102 may use or define one or more applicationprogramming interfaces (API). An API provides a method for computingprocesses or systems to exchange data. A web-based API, such may bedefined by user matching system 102 and accessed via web server 126 maypermit users to upload and download documents from user matching system102.

The API may define a set of HTTP calls according to RepresentationalState Transfer (RESTful) practices. A RESTful API may define variousGET, PUT, POST, DELETE methods to create, replace, update, and deletedata stored on database 128. For example, “GET/preferences/userid” maybe used to retrieve user preferences for the identification indicated by“userid.” An API may transmit responses to requests for data accordingto the JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) format.

Because of the sensitive nature of data stored by and used by usermatching system 102, various security measures may be used to protectdata at rest and in transmit. For example, APIs may use tokens or APIkeys to ensure only authorized parties may retrieve or user matchingsystem 102. Additionally, data transmitted over the network may use acryptographic protocol, such Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or TransportLayer Security (TLS). As a further security precaution, the transmitteddata itself may be encrypted, separately from the SSL or TLS encryption.Public-key infrastructure (PM) may be leveraged for SSL/TLS as well asthe separate data encryption.

As an additional privacy precaution, users may be provided an interface(e.g., via web server 126) to see data that has been collected by usermatching system 102. The user may have the option of deleting some orall of the data. Furthermore, the user may set a time for expiration ofthe data. In various examples, users may have to opt-in to datacollection before data may be collected by user matching system 102 foruse in matching. Periodically, the user may be reminded that usermatching system 102 is collecting the data.

FIG. 2 illustrates a user interface 200 for requesting assistance withdocument completion, according to various examples. FIG. 2 includescontent portion 202 of a sample document and assistance portion 204 thatincludes help query 206, expert request 208, and query results 210.

User interface 200 may be associated with an application opened by enduser 104 on the user's computing device. The application may bedownloaded and executed locally on the computing device or accessed as aweb application served by web server 126. Even while the application isexecuting locally, the application may communicate with user matchingsystem 102 over a network connection to facilitate matching andcollaborative editing of a document.

An application may be represented as a set of computer code stored onone or more storage devices and executed by one or more processing units(e.g., a core of a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit,etc.). In an example, functionality of an application may be integratedinto one or more specialized circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit). A storage device or computer-readable storagemedium is distinct from a signal-bearing medium, such as a transitorysignal.

A user may interact with an application using input and output devicesof a computing device. For example, the application may be presented ona display device of the computing device and the user may use a keyboardto enter data into the application.

An application may include a number of features (e.g., functionality)available to the user. For example, a word processing application mayinclude a template feature to allow the user to create a resume. Aspreadsheet applicant may include a feature to generate a pivot table orcalculate net present value. A feature of application may be activatedwithin the application by the user using an input device to select amenu item, click a user interface element on a toolbar, etc. Differentapplications may include common features. For example, multiplespreadsheet applications may include a pivot table feature. Somefeatures may be unique to an application. The output of an applicationmay be a document.

As illustrated, user interface 200 includes two portions: contentportion 202 and assistance portion 204. Content portion 202 may be theeditable portion of a document. Assistance portion 204 may relate tohelping a user use the features of the application to complete thedocument. Although illustrated as part of a contiguous interface,assistance portion 204 may be displayed in separate windows, as apull-out window from content portion 202, as a floating window, etc.

When using an application, a user often has an end goal in mind. Forexample, they may want to create a household budget, plan a wedding, orcreate a resume. As used herein, the end goal may also be referred to asa document intent. Upon completion of the document, according to adetermined document intent, the user's end goal may be realized. It maynot be readily apparent to an application what the document intent iswhen a document is first created, but may be inferred based upon signalscollected by signal collection 130 and document evaluation.

Document intent may be contrasted with feature intent. Feature intentmay relate to features of an application that the user wishes to use tofulfill the document intent. For example, the user may want to know moreabout how to create a header or crop a picture.

With reference to assistance portion 204, an end user may enter in helpquery 206. In this example, the end user is requesting help withcreating a report. The application may query a knowledge database andprovide query results 210 based on the query. Query results 210 mayrelate to features of the application that may assist the end user increating a report; however, the user may not know what these featuresare or if they are useful to generating a report that user needs.Accordingly, end user 104 may initiate a request via expert request 208to work with an expert user to complete end user's 104 document.

FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface for presenting documentcharacteristic questions, according to various examples. FIG. 3 includescontent portion 202 and assistance portion 204. FIG. 3 may represent aview of the application in FIG. 2 after a user has initiated a requestfor help using expert request 208. As illustrated, assistance portion204 has been updated to present a series of questions 302 related to therequest for help. The questions may be used in conjunction withadditional collected signals to determine the expected characteristicsof the completed document for the user. The expected characteristics mayinclude the expected content of the completed document (e.g., a resume)as well as completion preferences.

Completion preferences may be user-specific preferences with respect toan individual document completion request. For example, a due date suchas when the end user needs the completed document may vary from requestto request. Similarly, the intended audience and amount of money theuser is willing to spend may be variable between requests.

In various examples, the completion preferences are set according touser matching system 102 to reduce the amount of questions presented toa user. For example, over a period of time user matching system 102 maystore what a market rate is for a given task. Accordingly, the user maynot need to potentially over pay for a given task.

Based at least on the expected characteristics of the completeddocument, a document intent may be determined by intent determinationcomponent 120. Database 128 may store a set of document intents asdocument intent data structures. Example document intents includeupdating a resume, creating a pitch deck for a start-up, and conductinga quantitative analysis of sales data. Each document intent may havevariants. For example, creating a resume for a summer job may involve adifferent set of skills (and have a different value) than updating aresume of an executive. Document intents may conform to a standardizedtaxonomy (e.g., ontology) in some instances. Accordingly, documentintents may be hierarchical such that the skills needed to perform aparent document flow to the document intent's children.

Document intents may be managed created, deleted, updated, etc.—using atask management UI. The task management UI may be served as a webinterface or standalone application, in various examples. The taskmanagement UI may be hosted within or be communicatively coupled to usermatching system 102. Access to the task management UI may be managedaccording to authorized personnel. The task management UI may present aset of input UI elements to define a document intent. In some examples,the UI inputs correspond to fields in a document intent data structure,described further herein with respect to FIG. 4.

Document intents may also be suggested or determined by machine learningmodels. For examples, over a period of time, an unsupervised machinelearning model (k-nearest neighbor, etc.) may ingest data frompreviously completed unlabeled documents. The data may include adescription entered by an end user, output document type, end usertelemetry data (e.g., steps taken within an application) leading up tothe request, expert user activity in completing the document (e.g., whatapplication functionality was used), etc.

The machine learning model may output clusters of unlabeled documentintents. These document intents may be presented in the documentmanagement UI as possible new document intents. Then, each cluster maybe labeled and/or altered by an authorized user.

FIG. 4 illustrates a document intent data structure, according tovarious examples. FIG. 4 includes document intent identifier 402,application features 404, preferred user characteristics 406, base value408, intent variants 410, and output description 412.

The underlying structure of a document intent may conform to astandardized format. For example, an XML Schema Definition (XSD) filemay be used to indicate the various illustrated portions of a documentintent structure as described above. When a new document intent iscreated, the document intent may be stored as an XML document conformingto the XSD file. Other file formats may be used without departing fromthe scope of this disclosure.

Document intent identifier 402 may be used for indexing andsearching—for example, in database 128. Document intent identifier 402may also be what is matched when determining a user's intent usingprocesses described herein. For example, document intent identifier 402may be “Resume” if the document is a generic resume document or“Executive Resume” if the document is a more specialized resume.

Application features 404 may identify a set of features (e.g., tasks)that may be needed to complete a document As each document may likely becompleted in a number of differing manners, application features 404 mayidentify a superset of features needed to complete the document.Application features 404 may have an importance rating (e.g., 1-5)signifying whether or not the feature is likely needed to successfullycomplete the document. Features may be grouped when only one of them isneeded to complete the document (e.g., one of features A, B, or C).

Preferred user characteristics 406 may identify the characteristics of auser that may be relevant to complete the document. For example, usercharacteristics with respect to a user's application proficiencies,education level, availability (e.g., time periods available to work),and current/past job experience may be identified. As with applicationfeatures 404, user characteristics 406 may have an importance rating.

Base value 408 may be a qualitative or quantitative value thatrepresents the standard value for a document intent. For example, basevalue 408 may be a “$500”, “high value”, or ‘1’. Base value 408 may beused in calculating a personalized value for an end user that requeststhe document be completed. For example, if the end user needs thedocument performed in one day, a multiplier of ‘3’ may be applied tobase value 408. The resulting personalized value may be used in matchingone or more expert users to the end user.

Intent variants 410 may identify data structures (e.g., by documentintent identifier) for variants of the document intent. For example, oneor more parent document intents and one or more child document intentsmay be identified. Thus, when the matching process is performed, theapplication features 404 and preferred user characteristics 406 may beretrieved from any identified parent document intents.

Output description 412 may include text that is presented to an end useror expert user that describes the document intent, and an expectedoutput of the task. This may be used to confirm with the end user thatthe user matching system 102 correctly identified the document intentrequested by the end user. The output description 412 may also includekeywords associated with the document intent. The keywords may be thesame as those presented to the end user, in some examples,

Intent determination component 120 may be configured to match expertrequest 208 with one or more document intents as stored in database 128.Matching may be performed in a number of different ways and may beconfigurable by an administrator user. For example, text similaritiesalgorithms such as longest common substring, Damerau-Levenshteindistance, Jaro, Jaro-Winkler, N-gram, cosine similarity, etc. may beused to determine a similarity score between expert request 208 andoutput description 412 or other text corpus for a document intent—ofeach document intent stored in database 128.

More complex techniques may be used to make a match that use additionalsignals beyond text similarity. These signals may include, but are notlimited to, the application the request was made in, usercharacteristics of the end user, end user telemetry data (e.g., stepstaken within an application) leading up to the request, a templateselected by the user during creation of the document, and the currentcontent of the document. The signals may be collected by signalcollection 130.

These signals may be encoded for use in a previously trained machinelearning model. The output of the machine learning model may indicate aprobability score for each document intent. The higher the probabilitythe more likely the expert request 208 is for that particular documentintent. In another example, a weighted formula may be used based on oneor more of the identified signals.

In some examples, the highest calculated score (text similarity or othermore complex techniques) may be considered the match. In some examples,the document intents with the top (e.g., three highest) scores arepresented to the user to confirm which of the document intents the enduser actually meant in expert request 208.

Matching engine 116 may determine a set of potential expert users tocomplete the document once intent determination component 120 hasdetermined a document intent. For example, the application features andpreferred user characteristics of the document intent may be compared toratings of expert users in expert pool 108. The ratings may be stored aspart of the expert user's profiles be stored in user profiles 114Preferred user characteristics of the document intent compared with thecharacteristics of the expert users may also be as a factor to determinethe set of potential expert users. For example, if an expert user doesnot have the preferred education level, that expert user may not beincluded in the set of potential expert users.

FIG. 5 illustrates a rating data structure 500, according to variousexamples. FIG. 5 includes rating identifier 502, rating type 504,objecting rating components 506, subjective rating components 508,segmented characteristics 510, and rating 512.

The underlying structure of rating data structure 500 may conform to astandardized format. For example, an XML Schema Definition (XSD) filemay be used to indicate the various illustrated portions of rating datastructure 500 as described above. When a new rating data structure iscreated, the rating data structure may be stored as an XML documentconforming to the XSD file. Other file formats may be used withoutdeparting from the scope of this disclosure.

Rating data structure 500 is illustrated as a generic rating datastructure that may be used for multiple types of ratings. More specificrating data structures may also be used. For example, there be separateapplication proficiency and content editor rating data structures. Insuch cases, rating type 504 may not be needed.

Rating data structures may be managed —created, deleted, updated,etc.—using a rating management UI. The rating management UI may beserved as a web interface or standalone application, in variousexamples. The rating management UI may be hosted within or becommunicatively coupled to user matching system 102. Access to therating management UI may be managed according to authorized personnel.The rating management UI may present a set of input UI elements todefine a rating data structure. In some examples, the UI inputscorrespond to fields in rating data structure 500.

Rating identifier 502 may indicate the name of the rating. The name be afunction of rating type 504. For example, rating types may be forapplication feature proficiencies, overall application proficiency,document intent experience, ratings from other users, time to complete atask, among others. Accordingly, rating identifier 502 may be “pivottables” and rating type 504 may be “feature proficiency.”

Ratings may be objective in that the measurement originates from atrusted third-party or is quantitative in nature. In contrast,subjective rating components 508 may originate from other users and bequalitative in nature. If the rating originates from a user even if therating is a number as opposed to measured application data, etc., therating may be considered subjective.

Objective rating components 506 may include measurements of data relatedto the type of rating. For example, if rating type 504 is forapplication feature proficiencies, objective rating components 506 mayinclude the number of times a feature has been used, the frequency thefeature has been used, certification from third parties related to thefeature, job history, education level, obtained degrees, closeness tomeeting an estimated budget, among other things.

Subjective rating components 508 may include ratings given by humanusers related to the type of rating. For example, there may be a qualityrating of an application support page attributable to a user. In such aninstance, rating identifier 502 may include the name of the support pageor a name of feature of an application that the support page is for.Another subjective rating may be an overall rating for an expert userwith respect to how helpful the expert user was in assisting an enduser. For example, after completing a document, the end user may begiven the opportunity to rate how helpful the expert user was (e.g., a1-5 rating). Similarly, the expert user may give a rating to the enduser.

Segmented characteristics 510 may be used for more granular ratings. Asegmented characteristic may be a rating type. For example, a user mayhave a helpfulness rating for users with high proficiency in applicationand a different helpfulness rating for users with a low proficiency inthe application. As another example, a user may have differenthelpfulness ratings based on an age of the end user requesting help.Another segment may relate to the cost to complete a document. Forexample, a particular expert user may be rated highly when being paidabove $100 but have a lower rating when being paid less than $100.

Rating value 512 may include a value representing rating identifier 502for rating type 504 and segmented characteristics 510, if applicable.The value may be quantitative or qualitative in nature. Rating 512 maybe calculated based on the values included in objecting ratingcomponents 506 and subjective rating components 508 for a particularrating. For example, a weighting formula may be used for the variouscomponents such as (0.2)(objective rating 1)+(0.3)(objective rating2)+(0.5)(subjective rating 1). The formula and weights may be storedwith within rating data structure 500 and may editable by anadministrator user.

Signal collection 130 may be used to obtain data for objecting ratingcomponents 506 and subjective rating components 508. The signals maycome from within user matching system 102 or applications managed byuser matching system 102 as well as external sources. External sourcesmay include, but are not limited to, personal or professional socialnetworks, accreditation services, third party data aggregators, etc.

An external source may be accessed using a variety of means. Forexample, an external source may provide an API that enables the usermatching system 102 to specify a user identification. In response to theAPI call, the external source may format a response data package withdata associated with the user identification. The information mayinclude proficiency ratings for applications, application features,profession data such as current job title, and the like. The informationmay be stored as user characteristics or ratings within a user profile.

In another example, user matching system 102 may access the externalsource using user provided credentials (e.g., as stored in a userprofile data structure) to act as the user. Then, user matching system102 may use screen scraping techniques, as are known in the art, toretrieve information such as technical proficiency ratings, from theexternal source.

Data retrieved from an external source may be transformed to a formatconsistent with an ontology used by user matching system 102. Forexample, a professional social network may have skills a user can enterinto the user's profile. A data map—as stored in user matching system102—may identify a mapping between the skills of the social network anduser characteristics of a user profile data structure. Accordingly, whenretrieving data from the social network, the map be queried to obtainthe ontology terminology (e.g., a feature rating or applicationproficiency) for the skill. The mapping may also identify a scale to use(e.g., 50% to a 2 rating).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart representation of a method to update a featurerating, according to various examples. The method may be embodied in aset of instructions stored in at least one computer-readable storagedevice of a computing device(s). A computer-readable storage deviceexcludes transitory signals. In contrast, a signal-bearing medium mayinclude such transitory signals. The computing device(s) may have one ormore processors that execute the set of instructions to configure theone or more processors to perform the operations illustrated in FIG. 6.To this end, the one or more processors may instruct other parts of thecomputing device to carry out the set of instructions. For example, thecomputing device may instruct a network device to transmit data toanother computing device or the computing device may provide data over adisplay interface to present a user interface. In some examples,performance of the method may be split across multiple computingdevices.

At operation 602, in an example, an indication may be received of anaction performed by a first user using a feature of an electronicapplication for editing a document. In an example, the indication isreceived at or within a system such as user matching system 102.

The indication may include receiving or accessing a log of theactivities performed by the first user with respect to the application.For example, the log may be a data store with telemetry data of actionstaken by users within applications. The actions may be associated with auser ID, a time the action was taken, an application identifier, etc.Accordingly, the data store may be queried to obtain what activities theuser has taken with respect to the feature of the application to receivethe indication of the first user using the feature of the application.

The log may also identify actions taken by the first user with respectto the feature that are not direct uses of the feature. For example, aknowledge repository may store content related to features ofapplications. The first user may have created an object, such as writtencontent, with respect to the feature of the application.

At operation 604, in an example, a user profile data structure may beretrieved for the first user. The user profiled may identify a set ofratings for the user including a feature rating for the feature of theapplication. The user profile data structure may be defined according toa defined schema. In an example, a database may be queried using a userid of the first user to retrieve the data structure. A feature ratingmay include subjective and objective components.

At operation 606, in an example, an assessment may be received, from asecond user, of the performance of the action by the first user withrespect to completion of a document by the first user. For example, thefirst and second user may have completed a collaborative editing sessionwith respect to the document. Completing the document may have involvedthe first user using the feature (e.g., creating a pivot table,formatting headers in a presentation document, etc.). A prompt may bepresented to the second user, within the application, to assess thefirst user's performance with respect to the completed document.Reciprocally, the first user may give a rating to the second user. Auser profile of the second user may be updated based on the rating.

At operation 608, an objective rating component of the feature ratingmay be updated based on the performance of the action. For example, theobjective rating may be the number of times the first user has used thefeature. A subjective rating component of the feature rating may beupdated based on the assessment. For example, the rating may be averagedalong with other previous assessments. In some instances, a higherweight may be given to recent (e.g., the last ten) performances of thefeature.

In various examples, multiple versions of the feature rating are storedfor the first user. The multiple versions may be segmented according touser characteristics (e.g., age, education level, applicationproficiency). For example, user characteristics of the second user maybe accessed by retrieving the user profile for the second user. The usercharacteristics may include an age of the second user. Based on the age,a version of the feature rating from the multiple versions of thefeature rating in accordance with the age of the second user may beupdated. The ratings may also be segmented based on cost. For example, auser may have a first rating for document completion costs at a firstprice range and a second rating the document completion costs at asecond price range.

The method may additionally include accessing a user identification forthe first user with respect to an external source of data such as athird-party data store. The third-party data store may be a socialnetwork with application feature proficiency ratings. A rating requestmay be transmitted to the third-party data store using useridentification of the first user. Based on a response message from thethird-party store, the first feature rating may be updated. For example,an objective rating of the feature may be updated by averaging therating with other received signals.

In an example, a rating of written content may be received by a thirduser. For example, a written content a UI element may include an optionto give a helpfulness rating to the written content. The feature ratingmay be updated based on the rating of the written content by the thirduser. For example, one of the subjective components of the featurerating may be updated.

In an example, a collaborative editing session may be established withrespect to another document, over a network connection, between a thirduser and the first user based upon the feature rating and availabilityof the first user. For example, user matching system 102 may trackwhether or not the first user has been or is working with another userbefore making a match with the third user. The collaborative editingsession may be established based on a match between the first user andthird user. A match may be made using a method such as described withrespect to FIG. 7.

In some examples, objective rating components for various features ofthe application used by the first user may be updated based on theestablished collaborative editing session. For example, the total numberof times the first user has used a feature may be updated.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart representation of a method to match a first userwith a second user, according to various examples. The method may beembodied in a set of instructions stored in at least onecomputer-readable storage device of a computing device(s). The computingdevice(s) may have one or more processors that execute the set ofinstructions to configure the one or more processors to perform theoperations illustrated in FIG. 7. A computer-readable storage deviceexcludes transitory signals. In contrast, a signal-bearing medium mayinclude such transitory signals. To this end, the one or more processorsmay instruct other parts of the computing device to carry out the set ofinstructions. For example, the computing device may instruct a networkdevice to transmit data to another computing device or the computingdevice may provide data over a display interface to present a userinterface. In some examples, performance of the method may be splitacross multiple computing devices.

At operation 702, in an example, a request is received from a first uservia an application. In an example, the request is received at a server.The request may be for assistance with completion of a document withinthe application. The server may be user matching system 102. The requestmay include an identifier of the first user. The identifier may includea domain (e.g., user@company.com where company.com is the domain). Theapplication may be executed locally on a client device of the first useror via webpage on the client device.

At operation 704, in an example, expected characteristics of a completeddocument are determined based on the request. The determination may bemade using component of user matching system 102 such as intentdetermination component 120. The expected characteristics may identify aplurality of tasks to be performed to generate the completed document.In an example, the characteristics are determined based on data, enteredby the user in the application in conjunction with the request (e.g.,questions 302). The characteristics may also be based on telemetry dataof the first user leading up to the request.

The expected characteristics may be based on calculating a probabilitythat the request is for a completed document with a first intent of aplurality of document intents. For example, intent determinationcomponent 120 may compare words in the request with descriptions ofdocument intents. Other probability-based scores may be used asdescribed previously. In some examples, a number (e.g., three) of thehigher probability document intents are presented to the user to confirmthe document intent.

In an example for the chosen or determined document intent, a documentintent data structure is retrieved. The document intent may identify theplurality of tasks. The tasks may be features of the application thatmay be needed to be known to complete the document per the request.

The expected characteristics may include expected content of thecompleted document and completion preferences for the completed documentand wherein generating a set of potential users is further based on theexpected content and completion preferences. The expected content may bebased on a description of the request entered in response to one ofquestions 302. The expected content may be used as one of the factors indetermining the document intent. Completion preferences may be used as afactor in matching the first user with the second user as discussedfurther in operation 706.

At operation 706, in an example, a set of potential users to completethe document may be generated. The set of potential users generated maybe based on respective stored user profiles having ratings with respectto the plurality of tasks above a threshold value as well asavailability of the potential users given an expected time to completethe document. Consider that user matching system 102 iterates or queriesa data store of user profiles (e.g., user profiles 114 or database 128)for a set of user profiles. The query may include initial limitingfactors to decrease the processing power and energy use needed to searchthrough all of the user profiles. For example, the search may be limitedto potential user profiles that have the same domain as the first user.This may be useful so that the first user will end up working with anexpert user that is part of the same company or organization as thefirst user. This has the additional benefit of reducing privacy concernswith sharing information with an outside expert.

Another filter may to only look at user profiles in which a rating datastructure exists for each of the plurality of tasks. If a particularuser profile does not have a rating data structure then it is unlikelythat the particular user profile will be a good match for the firstuser. To this end, the method of FIG. 7 may include retrieving thestored user profiles for a set of potential users. Then for eachrespective user profile of the set of potential users: (1) determiningthat the respective user profile identifies a respective rating datastructure for each of the plurality of tasks; and (2) calculating amatch score for the respective user profile, with respect to the requestfrom the first user, based on ratings identified in the rating datastructures. The match score may be calculated in a variety of mannerincluding but not limited, a weighted average of the ratings and a sumof the ratings.

In some instances, a rating data structure may include segmented ratingsbased on a user characteristics. For example, a user may have one ratingfor based on interactions with 20-30 year old males and another forinteractions with a 30-40 year old females. Accordingly, usercharacteristics of the first user may be used to retrieve a rating fromthe respective rating data structure associated with the usercharacteristics of the first user. The user characteristics of the firstuser may be stored in a user profile of the first user.

In some examples, after the match score has been calculated based on theratings, additional factors may be used to narrow the set of potentialusers. For example, the completion preferences may be used to removesome users from the set of potential users. Consider that the set ofcompletion preferences includes a due date and an expected cost. Thecompletion preferences may be compared to information in the set of userprofiles of the set of potential users. The information may includepreferences of the users with respect to cost and timeliness. In someexamples, a request may be transmitted from user matching system 102 tocomputing devices of the potential users to determine the preferences.Based on the profiles and responses, the set of potential users maynarrowed to remove users that cannot meet the completion preferences.

In some examples, the set of potential users (narrowed or otherwise) maybe presented to the first user. Presenting may include an indication ofwhen each of the potential users may complete the request, the expectedcost, and background information (e.g., education, proficiency levels)on each of the potential users. The presentation may be in the sameapplication as the request. The application may permit the first user toselect one of the potential users as a second user. At operation 708,the selection may be received at the server of the second user.

At operation 710, in an example, permissions may be configured of theapplication to allow collaborative editing within the applicationbetween the first user and a second user of the set of potential usersto complete the document. For example, each document may have anidentifier and a list of authorized users stored within user matchingsystem 102. Upon received the selection of the second user, the servermay update the list of authorized users for the document within database128. Then, the second user may be granted access to edit the document atthe same time as the first user. In some example, a chat session isinitiated between the first and second users facilitated by usermatching system 102 using techniques known in the art. In some examples,the users may chat within the application (e.g., use a sidebarinterface)

After the document has been completed the first and second users mayrate the other. In the case of the second user, a rating data structurewithin the user profile of the second user with a task of the pluralityof tasks may be updated based on a received rating from the first user.For example, if the second user had to generate a pivot table and achart, the ratings for the pivot table and chart generation may beupdated (e.g., averaged with existing ratings). In some examples, therating may only be updated with respect to the application.

A rating for the first user may updated based on a rating from thesecond user. This rating may reflect the promptness in paying by thefirst user, the clarity of the request, or other factors. The rating maybe used by expert users to decide if he or she wants to work with thefirst user.

In some examples, a more accurate match may be based on a documentvalue. A document value may be expressed in a variety of forms includinga numerical rating, a qualitative rating, a user-specific rating, adollar value, or a relative value. An input to determining the documentvalue may come from the intended audience of the document. Furtherexplanations of these ratings are discussed in the context of FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 is schematic diagram illustrating determining a document value,according to various examples. FIG. 8 includes document evaluation 124that includes purpose types 808, parameters 810, value models 812, anddocument value 814. Inputs to document evaluation 124 may includedocument content 802, document intent 804, and user input 806. Documentevaluation 124 may be part of a larger matching system such as usermatching system 102 or operate as a standalone service/system.

Documents may be created for a number of purposes. For example, a resumeis often created for a single purpose, applying for a new job. However,other documents of a similar/same structure may have different purposes.For example, a sales report may be used for marketing in one instance,and for decision making by a production team in another. Similarly, apresentation may be used to secure funding for a company or as part of amotivation speech. As used herein, purposes are referred to as purposetypes (e.g., purpose types 808) and include, but are not limited to,persuasion, job obtainment, product releases, reporting, instructional,entertainment, marketing, and capture/recording. A document is notlimited to one purpose type.

Document evaluation 124 may determine a purpose type(s) for a document.The document may have just been created or may include document content802. As a starting point, document evaluation 124 may use one or more ofdocument content 802, document intent 804, or user input 806 todetermine one or more purpose types. A purpose type may be representedas a purpose type data structure stored in a database (e.g., database128). The purpose type data structure may be defined according to aschema with fields such as a purpose type identifier, keywords, andparameters.

The purpose type identifier may be a name of the purpose type (e.g.,persuasion, marketing, etc.). Keywords may be words of phrasesassociated with the purpose type. Prior completed semantic analysis oflabeled data sets may yield sets of words associated with the differentpurposes types. Additionally, writing styles and word frequency may beassociated with different purpose types. For example, academic papers(e.g., an academic domain) may use certain words at a differentfrequency than marketing brochures.

Document content 802 (e.g., text in a word document, column headings ina spreadsheet) may be analyzed to determine a writing style, keywordfrequency, domain, etc. Thus, in an example, if document content 802indicates an academic domain, the purpose type may be consideredinstructional. Various text similarities algorithms such as longestcommon substring, Damerau-Levenshtein distance, Jaro, Jaro-Winkler,N-gram, cosine similarity, etc., may be used in comparing documentcontent 802 with the keywords or phrases identified in purpose type datastructure. The output of the algorithms may be a percent similaritymatch.

The parameters in a document type data structure may identify one ormore parameters 810. In an example, parameters 810 are the variablesused to calculate a document value. The parameters may be, but are notlimited to, an expected launch date of a product, a due date, anintended audience, a cost savings, a window of utility, expected healthbenefits, etc. Not every document will have values for each of theparameters. For example, a student's resume may not have a quantifiablehealth benefit. In contrast, health benefits may be readily apparentwith respect to a presentation to obtain funding for researching a newcancer treatment.

Document evaluation 124 may also use document intent 804 as a signal fordetermining a purpose type. Document intent 804 may be determined byintent determination component 120 as described previously. In someinstances, a document intent may correspond directly with a purposetype. For example, if the document intent was for a student resume, thepurpose type may be job obtainment. Whereas, if the document intent wasgenerating a sales report, the purpose type may not be precisely known;however, it may be assumed that a job obtainment purpose type is lesslikely than the reporting or marketing job purpose types.

A mapping table may be stored that links document intents to purposetypes. The mapping table may include weights for the purpose types. Forexample, the sales report document intent may include a weight of 0.1for job obtainment and a 0.9 for a reporting purpose type.

The probability that any particular purpose type is the purpose of adocument may be calculated based on component scores. One componentscore may be the probability that document content 802 matches thepurpose type. Another component may be the weight given to a purposetype based on document intent 804. The two component scores may be addedtogether, averaged, or be given separate weights. For example, there maybe a 90% match between document content 802 and the persuasion purposetype, and a 0.7 weight for the persuasion purpose type based on documentintended 804. The final probability may then be calculated as 80%. Thehighest probability may be considered the purpose type for a document.

User input 806 may be used to augment or a supplant a purpose typedetermined using the probability method above. For example, within theapplication the user is requesting help from, a drop-down menu may bepresented. The menu may include options for selecting a purpose type.The menu may be presented as part of a series of questions 302 withrespect to FIG. 3. Using this method, document evaluation 124 may notrequire other inputs such as document content 802 or document content804.

In other examples, document evaluation 124 may perform the profitabilityanalysis described above to match one or more purpose types. Any purposetype that is above a threshold probability (e.g., 60%) may be presentedto the user that has requested help. The user may then select thepurpose type that most closely aligns with the user's goals with respectto the completed document.

Other methodologies may be used to determine the purpose type of thedocument. For example, a machine learning model (e.g., a neural network)may be built, trained, and used for determining purpose types. Featuresobtained from document content 802, document content 804, and usertelemetry data with respect to actions taken by the user leading up tothe request may be used to train machine learning model.

Past known purposes may he used as training data. For example, atraining data set may include vector representations of text in thedocument and encodings representing a document type (e.g., presentation,spreadsheet), telemetry data, quantity of prior documents (e.g., theuser has completed 20 sales document with X intent), and usercharacteristics. Each item in the training data set may be labeled withthe prior determined purpose type.

The trained machine learning model may be used to determine purposetypes of a document. For example, document evaluation 124 may encodevector representations of text in a document, encodings representing adocument type (e.g., presentation, spreadsheet), telemetry data, anduser characteristics for a recently received document completionrequest. The output of the machine learning model may be the probabilitythat each purpose type is the actual purpose type for a user. In someinstances, a user may be presented with the highest probability purposetype for confirmation. The results of the confirmation may be used tofurther train the machine learning model.

In some sense, all documents have a value. For example, even a staticdocument that is never shown to anyone beyond the creator has aneconomic cost to store, transmit, and display the document. Afterdeleting the document, the document value goes to zero. Or, if thedocument has a recreation cost, the value of the deleted document maynow be negative. Accordingly, a document's value may be driven by theexpected economic outcome of the document achieving its purpose (e.g. topersuade, summarize, capture, etc.). For example, a resume thateffectively persuades someone to hire you for a six-figure job has avalue which is very different than the recorded meeting notes for aroutine team meeting.

Different value models 812 may be used in order to generate documentvalue 814. Document value may be expressed as a dollar value, a rating(e.g., 1-X), or a relative value (e.g., high, medium, low). The relativevalue may be a user-specific value for a given document intent andpurpose type. For example, resume creation for an executive position ata new company may be of greater importance to the user than the sameresume creation for a part-time job.

Document evaluation 124 may use a value model to calculate documentvalue 814 using parameters 810 as input variables. Consider thefollowing examples in which document value 814 is expressed as a dollarvalue. The selected parameters may include a quality or preservation oflife (P_(oL)), a financial outcome (FO), a window of utility (W_(o U)),a deadline (β), and an intended audience. As seen below, the value of aparticular parameter may be based on another parameter.

In an example, quality or preservation of life is considered the highestvalue that a document may provide. Consider that the document a formulafor a life-saving prescription drug or battle plans that will reducecasualties in war, etc. The value model used in determining the documentvalue may be configured such that any increase in P_(oL) outweighs allother parameters.

The FO parameter may be linked to a quantifiable financial outcome.Example financial outcomes may be: a startup's pitch deck to persuade(e.g., the persuasion purpose type) investors to give the startup $10 Min funding; a book that teaches Italian cooking which the author expectsto sell 10,000 copies; or a financial model that summarizes theprojected savings from a proposed merger.

In some cases, a document has a limited utility period that dictates howlong* the contained information has value. This may be referred to asthe Window of Utility (W_(oU)). For example, a weather report for theweekend has value leading up to the date in question, but quickly erodesonce the new week begins. In contrast, a document teaching someone howto play classical violin has a very broad window of utility becausepeople have been playing music for a long time and will likely continuedoing so. In some instances deadline (β) is used—after which point theW_(oU) goes to zero.

A formula value model to calculate document value 814 (DV) may bedefined as:

DV=[[(α×P _(oL))+FO]×W _(oU)]

where

-   -   P_(oL) defines the number of lives preserved by the information        in a completed document    -   α is a scale factor for (P_(oL)) ranging from 0.0 for no human        life impact to ∞ if human life is affected. In some examples,        the largest number a computing system used to calculate DV is        capable of representing may be used in lieu of ∞.    -   FO is an expected financial outcome of the document where FO is        defined as:

$\sum\limits_{k = 0}^{n}{{networth}(k)}$

That is, the primary determinant in FO may be the sum of the estimatednet worth for all N consumers (e.g., viewers) of the completed document

-   -   W_(oU) is the Window of Utility ranging from 0.0 to 1.0 and may        evaluated as

IF(currentDate<=deadline β) THEN W_(oU)=1; ELSE W_(oU)=0

-   -   In some example, documents without a deadline are defined by a        β=∞

Next, a series of examples are presented using the above value model. Inexample 1 there is a formula for a life-saving prescription drug thatcan help one million people. Thus,

DV=[[(1M×∞)+FO]×1.0=>1M∞.

In this example, the mere fact that this formulation can save 1M liveswithout a defined deadline means the information is very valuable worthmuch more than the combined net worth of the recipients of theprescription drug. Further, another prescription that could save 10Mlives would similarly be very valuable but have a worth ten timesgreater than this formula.

In example 2, the document may be for a battle plan that can save 100Klives if reviewed and executed within the next ten days. Thus,

DV=[(100k×∞)+FO]×1.0]=>100K if reviewed and executed within 10 days

DV=[(100k×∞)+FO]×0.0]=>0 because the deadline β has passed and now thedocument is worth nothing

In example 3, a document may be a startup's pitch deck to persuadeinvestors to give the startup $10M in funding at a meeting on March15th. Assume that the intended audience is five venture capitalistdecision makers with an estimated net worth of greater than 1 billionmillion each, in this case, if the document is finished and reviewedbefore March 15th:

DV=[[(P_(oL)=0)+Σ_(k=0) ^(n)networth(k)=$5B]×1.0]=>$5B if finished andreviewed by March 15th

However, after the March 15th meeting, the document value becomes 0

DV=[[(P _(oL)=0)+Σ_(k=0) ^(n)networth(k)=$5B]×0.0]=>$0

In example 4, the document may be a book that teaches Italian cookingwhich the author expects to sell 10,000 copies. Assuming that theaverage net worth for an American is 301k, the sum of the net worth is301k×10k=>$3B and

DV=[[(P _(oL)=0)+Σ_(k=0) ^(n)networth(k)=$3B]×1.0]=>$3B

Notice, that when example 3 is compared to the previous example, itwould suggest that a document which is intended to secure $10M in VCfunding is worth more than a cookbook that sells 10K copies as anobjective measurement. Flipping the example around, if the book'spurpose was to entertain and served a broader audience—selling anexpected 10M copies then the document value may be $3T. For example, theHarry Potter series is an example of this category where every one ofthe seven books in the series sold more than 10M copies. Thus, one ofthese books would have more economic value than the startup pitch deckexample above.

The values for parameters used in a value model may be obtained in avariety of manners. In some instances, the parameters may be requesteddirectly from the user. For example, after determining the purposetype—either automatically or by soliciting the user—the application maypresent questions to user for parameters associated with the purposetype. Accordingly, if the purpose type is for a product launch, theapplication may request the launch date of the product. This may be usedas deadline β in calculating a document value.

In some examples, user matching system 102 may obtain the values for theparameters using API calls or querying internal databases. ConsiderExample 3, where there is a meeting on March 15. User matching system102 may access a calendar of the user that is presenting at themeeting—with the permission of the user—to retrieve an attendee list forthe meeting. Characteristics (e.g., net worth, job title, etc.) may begathered using identifiers of the attendees (e.g., e-mail addresses).For example, a social media website or other external data repositorymay be queried using the identifiers to retrieve the characteristics. Insome example, permission for the data retrieval is obtained fromattendees before the characteristics are retrieved.

The formula value model above is only an example and other formulas maybe used. For example, more of fewer variables may be used in determininga document value. The variables may include the importance of a document(e.g., on a rating or 1-5) as input by the user, the amount the user iswilling to pay to complete the document, the time it takes to completethe document (e.g., more time may mean more value), the economic value(e.g., salary) of the creator and intended audience, among others.

Another variable may be a reuse score based on the potential for adocument (or a section within the document) to be reused. For example,if the document is a template that will be used as the basis for allcompany presentations in the future, the document may have a highervalue. Similarly, a chart that may he placed in many presentations ordocuments may be given a higher reuse score.

A weighted score may be a type of a formula value model that results ina document value between zero and one: with one being considered highvalue and zero, low value. Other weights scored may have an open endedrange. Each of the parameters used in calculating the weighed score maybe scaled to a standardized range if a set range for the document value.A decision tree value model may be stored as a set of if-thenstatements. For example, “if(due-date==true) and if (due-date<=one-weekfrom today) then document value=5. ” Different formula value models maybe stored in value models 812. A weighed score may be used in place ofor in conjunction with other value values such as the detailed formulamodel described above.

A trained neural network (e.g., one or more layers of nodes) may be usedto determine a dollar value range or relative value for a document. Theneural network may be trained using values associated with documentvalue determinization using previously completed documents. A trainedneural network may be stored as a set of weights for each node in eachlayer of the neural network. For example, labeled high value, low value,etc.—data sets of parameters may be encoded as a feature vector as theinput to the neural network.

Accordingly, after training, document evaluation 124 may input theparameters values for a newly received request into a feature vector.The parameter values may be obtained as described above. The output ofthe neural network may be a probability that each value range orrelative value is the “correct” value. For example, there may be an 80%chance the document value is “high” and a 20% chance the document valueis “low.” In some examples, training may occur periodically for a givendocument as the document value may change over time based on theaudience increasing. For example, if a document is initially viewed byfive people (e.g., in the first week) the document value may be low;however, if the document is used 50k times over the next three months,the document value would be higher.

The formulas, neural networks, decision tree structures, and weightedscore definitions for calculating a document value may be stored invalue models 812.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart representation of a method to match a first userwith a second user, according to various examples. The method may beembodied in a set of instructions stored in at least onecomputer-readable storage device of a computing device(s). Acomputer-readable storage device excludes transitory signals, incontrast, a signal-bearing medium may include such transitory signals.The computing device(s) may have one or more processors that execute theset of instructions to configure the one or more processors to performthe operations illustrated in FIG. 9. To this end, the one or moreprocessors may instruct other parts of the computing device to carry outthe set of instructions. For example, the computing device may instructa network device to transmit data to another computing device or thecomputing device may provide data over a display interface to present auser interface. In some examples, performance of the method may be splitacross multiple computing devices.

At operation 902, in an example, a request is received from a first uservia an application. The request may be received at a server. The requestmay be for assistance with completion of a document within theapplication. The server may be user matching system 102. The request mayinclude an identifier of the first user. The identifier may include adomain (e.g., user@company.com where company.com is the domain). Theapplication may be executed locally on a client device of the first useror via webpage on the client device.

At operation 904, in an example, expected characteristics of a completeddocument are determined based on the request. The determination may bemade using component of user matching system 102 such as intentdetermination component 120. The expected characteristics may identify aplurality of tasks (906) to be performed to generate the completeddocument. In an example, the characteristics are determined based ondata entered by the user in the application in conjunction with therequest (e.g., questions 302). The characteristics may also be based ontelemetry data of the first user leading up to the request.

The expected characteristics may also include a document value (908) forthe completed document. A document value may be based on a number ofparameters and a value model as described above with respect to FIG. 8.For example, one of the parameters may be an intended audience for thecompleted document. Characteristics (e.g., job titles, income, networth, etc.) of the intended audience may be retrieved. Retrieval mayinclude querying a database or invoking an API call. The retrievedcharacteristics may be used as parameters in calculating the documentvalue. In some examples, the determined document value may be presentedto the first user.

In an example, a type of purpose for the completed document isdetermined. The purpose may be intended or unintended. The type ofpurpose may be determined by document evaluation 124 as discussed indetail with respect to FIG. 8. For example, the document content, adocument intent, or user input may be used to determine the purposetype. Purpose types may be stored as data structures. The data structuremay identify a set of parameters used to calculate the document valuebased on the purpose type.

For example, if the determined type of purpose is a persuasion purpose,a selected set of parameters may include roles (e.g., decision maker,investor) of an intended audience of the completed document. Each rolemay have a quantifiable value used in a formula for calculating thedocument value. In another example, the determined type of purpose maybe a marketing purpose and the selected set of parameters may include anestimated launch date for a product.

At operation 910, in an example, a computer-implemented matching processis performed to match the first user with a second user based on theplurality of tasks and document value. For example, as discussed inoperation 706 in FIG. 7, each potential user may have ratings withrespect to the plurality of tasks. Each potential user may also have arating with respect to a document value. Thus, a user may have a “high”rating for relatively low documents values (e.g., the bottom 20% of adefined scale), but a “low” rating for relatively high document values(e.g., the top 20%). Accordingly, at operation 912, a matching score maybe calculated for each potential user using the ratings for theplurality of tasks and the document value (e.g., using a neural network,weight score formula. etc.). The potential user with the highestmatching score may be selected to work on the document with the firstuser. In some examples, the top three matched potential users arepresented to the first user for final selection.

In an example, the document value may be based on an estimated time ofcompletion of the document for each potential user. As describedpreviously, a document value may change over time. Consider a firstpotential user can complete the document in one day and a secondpotential user needs two days. Accordingly, the document value may behigher for the first potential user than the second potential user.Thus, depending on the weights used in a matching score, the firstpotential user may be selected even if the first potential user haslower ratings than the second potential user with regards to theplurality of tasks.

At operation 914, in an example, permissions may be configured of theapplication to allow collaborative editing within the applicationbetween the first user and a second user of the set of potential usersto complete the document. For example, each document may have anidentifier and a list of authorized users stored within user matchingsystem 102. Upon received the selection of the second user, the servermay update the list of authorized users for the document within database128. Then, the second user may be granted access to edit the document atthe same time as the first user. In some example, a chat session isinitiated between the first and second users facilitated by usermatching system 102 using techniques known in the art. In some examples,the users may chat within the application (e.g., use a sidebarinterface)

Example Computer System

Embodiments described herein may be implemented in one or a combinationof hardware, firmware, and software. Embodiments may also be implementedas instructions stored on a machine-readable storage device, which maybe read and executed by at least one processor to perform the operationsdescribed herein. A machine-readable storage device may include anynon-transitory mechanism for storing information in a form readable by amachine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable storagedevice may include read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM),magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash-memorydevices, and other storage devices and media.

Examples, as described herein, may include, or may operate on, logic ora number of components, modules, or mechanisms. Modules may be hardware,software, or firmware communicatively coupled to one or more processorsin order to carry out the operations described herein. Modules mayhardware modules, and as such modules may be considered tangibleentities capable of performing specified operations and may beconfigured or arranged in a certain manner. In an example, circuits maybe arranged (e.g., internally or with respect to external entities suchas other circuits) in a specified manner as a module. In an example, thewhole or part of one or more computer systems (e.g., a standalone,client or server computer system) or one or more hardware processors maybe configured by firmware or software (e.g., instructions, anapplication portion, or an application) as a module that operates toperform specified operations. In an example, the software may reside ona machine-readable medium. In an example, the software, when executed bythe underlying hardware of the module, causes the hardware to performthe specified operations. Accordingly, the term hardware module isunderstood to encompass a tangible entity, be that an entity that isphysically constructed, specifically configured (e.g., hardwired), ortemporarily (e.g., transitorily) configured (e.g., programmed) tooperate in a specified manner or to perform part or all of any operationdescribed herein. Considering examples in which modules are temporarilyconfigured, each of the modules need not be instantiated at any onemoment in time. For example, where the modules comprise ageneral-purpose hardware processor configured using software; thegeneral-purpose hardware processor may be configured as respectivedifferent modules at different times. Software may accordingly configurea hardware processor, for example, to constitute a particular module atone instance of time and to constitute a different module at a differentinstance of time. Modules may also be software or firmware modules,which operate to perform the methodologies described herein.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a machine in the example form ofa computer system 1000, within which a set or sequence of instructionsmay be executed to cause the machine to perform any one of themethodologies discussed herein, according to an example embodiment. Inalternative embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device ormay be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines. In a networkeddeployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of either a serveror a client machine in server-client network environments, or it may actas a peer machine in peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environments.The machine may be an onboard vehicle system, wearable device, personalcomputer (PC), a tablet PC, a hybrid tablet, a personal digitalassistant (PDA), a mobile telephone, or any machine capable of executinginstructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be takenby that machine. Further, while only a single machine is illustrated,the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection ofmachines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets)of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein. Similarly, the term “processor-based system” shall betaken to include any set of one or more machines that are controlled byor operated by a processor (e.g., a computer) to individually or jointlyexecute instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

Example computer system 1000 includes at least one processor 1002 (e.g.,a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU) orboth, processor cores, compute nodes, etc.), a main memory 1004 and astatic memory 1006, which communicate with each other via a link 1008(e.g., bus). The computer system 1000 may further include a videodisplay unit 1010, an alphanumeric input device 1012 (e.g., a keyboard),and a user interface (UI) navigation device 1014 (e.g., a mouse). In oneembodiment, the video display unit 1010, input device 1012 and UInavigation device 1014 are incorporated into a touch screen display. Thecomputer system 1000 may additionally include a storage device 1016(e.g., a drive unit), a signal generation device 1018 (e.g., a speaker),a network interface device 1020, and one or more sensors (not shown),such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, compass,accelerometer, or other sensor.

The storage device 1016 includes a machine-readable medium 1022 on whichis stored one or more sets of data structures and instructions 1024(e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of themethodologies or functions described herein. The instructions 1024 mayalso reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory1004, static memory 1006, and/or within the processor 1002 duringexecution thereof by the computer system 1000, with the main memory1004, static memory 1006, and the processor 1002 also constitutingmachine-readable media.

While the machine-readable medium 1022 is illustrated in an exampleembodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” mayinclude a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized ordistributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that storethe one or more instructions 1024. The term “machine-readable medium”shall also be taken to include any tangible medium that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying instructions for execution by the machineand that cause the machine to perform any one or more of themethodologies of the present disclosure or that is capable of storing,encoding or carrying data structures utilized by or associated with suchinstructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly betaken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, andoptical and magnetic media. Specific examples of machine-readable mediainclude non-volatile memory, including but not limited to, by way ofexample, semiconductor memory devices (e.g., electrically programmableread-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such asinternal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; andCD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks.

The instructions 1024 may further be transmitted or received over acommunications network 1026 using a transmission medium via the networkinterface device 1020 utilizing any one of a number of well-knowntransfer protocols (e.g., HTTP). Examples of communication networksinclude a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), theInternet, mobile telephone networks, plain old telephone (POTS)networks, and wireless data networks (e.g., Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G LTE/LTE-Aor WiMAX networks). The term “transmission medium” shall be taken toinclude any intangible medium that is capable of storing, encoding, orcarrying instructions for execution by the machine, and includes digitalor analog communications signals or other intangible medium tofacilitate communication of such software.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawingsshow, by way of illustration, specific embodiments that may bepracticed. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.”Such examples may include elements in addition to those shown ordescribed. However, also contemplated are examples that include theelements shown or described. Moreover, also contemplate are examplesusing any combination or permutation of those elements shown ordescribed (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to aparticular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect toother examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or describedherein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: receiving request from afirst user via an application, for assistance completion of a documentwithin the application; determining expected characteristics of thecompleted document, the expected characteristics identifying: aplurality of tasks to be performed to generate the completed document;and a document value; performing a computer-implemented matching processto match the first user with a second user based on the plurality oftasks and document value; and configuring permissions of the applicationto allow collaborative editing within the application between the firstuser and second user to complete the document.
 2. The method of claim I,wherein the document value is further based on an intended audience forthe completed document.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:retrieving user characteristics of the intended audience; and whereinthe document value is based on the user characteristics of the intendedaudience.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the document value is basedon an estimated time of completion of the document for each potentialuser.
 5. The method of claim I, further comprising: determining a typeof purpose for the completed document.
 6. The method of claim 5, furthercomprising: selecting a set of parameters for use in determining thedocument value based on the type of purpose.
 7. The method of claim 6,wherein the determined type of purpose is a persuasion purpose and theset of selected parameters includes roles of an intended audience of thecompleted document.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein the determinedtype of purpose is a marketing purpose and the set of selectedparameters includes an estimated launch date for a product.
 9. A systemcomprising: at least one processor; and a storage device comprisinginstructions, which when executed by the at least one processor,configure the at least one processor to perform operations: receivingrequest from a first user via an application, for assistance withcompletion of a document within the application; determining expectedcharacteristics of the completed document, the expected characteristicsidentifying: a plurality of tasks to be performed to generate thecompleted document; and a document value; performing acomputer-implemented matching process to match the first user with asecond user based on the plurality of tasks and document value; andconfiguring permissions of the application to allow collaborativeediting within the application between the first user and second user tocomplete the document.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the documentvalue is further based on an intended audience for the completeddocument.
 11. The system of claim 10, the operations further comprising:retrieving user characteristics of the intended audience; and whereinthe document value is based on the user characteristics of the intendedaudience.
 12. The system of claim 9, wherein the document value is basedon an estimated time of completion of the document for each potentialuser.
 13. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising:determining a type of purpose for the completed document.
 14. The systemof claim 13, the operations further comprising: selecting a set ofparameters for use in determining the document value based on the typeof purpose.
 15. A computer-readable storage device comprisinginstructions, which when executed by at least one processor, configurethe at least one processor to perform operations comprising: receivingrequest from a first user via an application, for assistance withcompletion of a document within the application; determining expectedcharacteristics of the completed document, the expected characteristicsidentifying: a plurality of tasks to be performed to generate thecompleted document: and a document value; performing acomputer-implemented matching process to match the first user with asecond user based on the plurality of tasks and document value; andconfiguring permissions of the application to allow collaborativeediting within the application between the first user and second user tocomplete the document.
 16. The storage device of claim 15, wherein thedocument value is further based on an intended audience for thecompleted document.
 17. The storage device of claim 16, the operationsfurther comprising: retrieving user characteristics of the intendedaudience; and wherein the document value is based on the usercharacteristics of the intended audience.
 18. The storage device ofclaim 15, wherein the document value is based on an estimated time ofcompletion of the document for each potential user,
 19. The storagedevice of claim 15, the operations further comprising: determining atype of purpose for the completed document.
 20. The storage device ofclaim 19, the operations further comprising: selecting a set ofparameters for use in determining the document value based on the typeof purpose.